Heritage-listed Queensland National Hotel in Mount Morgan sells to family

An historic former Queensland National Hotel has sold to a private family for less than the price of a block of land in south-east Queensland.

Photos of the Queensland National Hotel over the years at 28 Morgan Street, Mount Morgan.

A heritage-listed former pub with a watch tower used to observe enemy aircraft during WWII will now be used as a family home.

Built in 1890, Mount Morgan’s former Queensland National Hotel has been listed for sale on and off from 2014 until it sold in June 2023 for $265,000.

Mount Morgan Promotion and Development Inc President John Steinberger welcomed the news of the recent sale.

“It had been vacant for a while and things were in need of some repair,” Mr Steinberger said.

There are 14 buildings listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in Mount Morgan, with the former QN Hotel one of the oldest in terms of when it was constructed.

Located at 28 Morgan Street, next to the town’s fire station, it was one of 27 original hotels in the town.

“We used to do the tours around the town and the mine and the hotel was certainly one of the main ones we would pull up and talk on,” Mr Steinberger said.

It is also pointed out to people visiting the town’s museum.

“We point out its historic significance,” Mr Steinberger said.

“The location is recognised… many visitors do see it as a talking point and there are plenty of photographs taken there.

There are nine rooms upstairs in the building that all back onto verandas at the front or rear.

The hotel was designed by Rockhampton architect John William Wilson in 1890 and at the time it was one of the most elaborately designed hotels in the town.

The two-storey weatherboard hotel building was built in 1899 and was named after the first bank in Mount Morgan.

The township of Mount Morgan began to boom in the 1890s as mining claims were established and many other hotels and buildings were erected.

Ms Heiser, who also ran a second Queensland National Hotel in Bajool and the Metropole in Mount Morgan, had the hotel until she died in 1909 and it was put up for sale by the estate in 1925.

A photo from 1986 of the Queensland National Hotel in Mount Morgan.

A main feature of the building is the tower, accessed through the trapdoor at the top of a narrow stair, was used as a 24-hour lookout for enemy planes by “Mt Morgan Volunteer Air Observer Corps” in World War II.

The watch information passed information about allied and enemy aircraft to the Rockhampton base during the war as Mount Morgan was considered to be a possible target because it was a source of essential materials.

Mining continued at the local mine until the closure in 1990, which saw the population of the town decrease.

The property is reported to have sold in 1990 for $243,000, when at the time the hotel would have been still operating.

Mount Morgan's John Steinberger.

The Queensland National Hotel licence was revoked in 1992 and it was put up for sale by auction.

It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in the same year.

Mr Steinberger said it was a busy place, even right up until the end.

He himself has fond memories of frequenting the hotel in his 20s.

One of the three lounge areas at the former Queensland National Hotel in Mount Morgan.

The property was purchased in 1993 for $50,000 by the Wesleyan Methodist Church and was used as a church venue up until the year 2000.

After that it sold a number of times and was used as a private residence, including artists Kate and Brian Moore who bought it in 2002 for $126,000.

The Queensland National Hotel building at 28 Morgan Street, Mount Morgan, was built in 1899.

In 2008 the Moores received a $25,000 government grant to renovate the heritage-listed building.

The Moores sold it in 2012 for $480,000 and the last owner had it for 11 years.

Around this time parts of the original watch tower were damaged and came off in weather, but the Moores replaced it.

“You probably wouldn’t know if it wasn’t pointed out to you,” Mr Steinberger said.

“Its (the hotel’s) significance of the watch tower is important. Back in World War II they used to watch out for enemy planes approaching, thank goodness that never happened.”

The former Queensland National Hotel on Morgan Street in Mount Morgan pictured in 1994.

The nine rooms upstair either open to the front veranda with vista views of the mountains and mine site and the others overlook the gardens.

Downstairs is a grand hall with an expansive dining area and additional hall, along with a kitchen that opens to a private patio and laundry, storage and a workshop.

Outside is a large carport and footpaths, gardens and a patio area.

The upstairs bathroom of the grand building.

Over the years the building, which is all original, had been marketed on real estate listings with potential to be converted to a bed and breakfast.

The property was sold by Angela Douglas of Discover Real Estate and settled in July to a family who intend on using it as a private home.

Originally published as Heritage-listed Queensland National Hotel in Mount Morgan sells to family